POWERSTORM'Act I'Sixteen years it took for this moment, was it worth the wait? Very much so. Greek Power Metal one-man project Powerstorm (Kostas Falieros) made this moment the best that could ever be, a powerful yet exciting array of high vocals and majestic riffs aligned with some of the most insane solo's ever heard from the Greek Metal scene. Whilst 'Act I' has the power and majestic nature of the Ancient Greek folks people and gods, Powerstorm bring the might of Zeus to Mount Olympus in this fast and lively release, this is something modern Greece should cherish, the notion of having a Greek mastermind, one to rival Canada's Devin Townsend. Powerstorm is one band to watch out for, this has just begun and that was 'Act I'.[8] RHYS STEVENSON

Fresh from the baby ward in Frankfurt-Am-Main hospital is little newcomers Sapiency, the German sextet implementing a hard blast of Melodic Death / Thrash Metal with the driven force of Germany's hard and heavy hitting twist on Metal music. Their debut album 'Fate's End' released last year echo's a complete sound of fist-beating vocals and ear-ripping music to infuse any negative atmosphere with a get-up and mosh aesthetic as a replacement. Sapiency with this effort are surely to be snapped up by a record label without a doubt, possibly someone like Metal Blade or Napalm Records. A true testament to the burgeoning German Metal scene, a band to watch without fail.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

TOKKS VOITTO'Formation'Wondering whether the sauerkraut went off in the fridge, but for Germany's latest Melodic Death Metal conjure, this is half the case. Tokks Voitto excrete their debut EP 'Formation' with a load of question marks surrounding it, whilst the music is near enough suitable to be accepted, the vocals are somewhat of a mystery, not only is there no clean vocals as usually seen in Melodic Death Metal, the lyrics are inaudible and thus resulting in a near poor EP. But for this German sextet, this is just the beginning as the only way for these guys is up. So whilst the vocals leave a disappointing aftertaste, the music itself provides a fruitful lavish taste of erotic melodies.

[6.5] RHYS STEVENSON

UNLEASH THE ARCHERS'Demons Of The Astrowaste'Racing across the North American plains and mountains is Canadian storm-troopers Unleash The Archers returning with their second offering in the form of another album loaded with insanely heavenly musical compositions and a sense of majestic adventure. Wielding a powerful thunderstruck alliance of Melodic Death Metal with Power Metal, this British Columbia quintet unleash a catastrophic landslide of ferocious riffs and brain-battering drumming along with vocals on an emphatic scale, contrasting with the highs and lows of the vocal range. With 'Demons Of The Astrowaste' now in their repertoire, this is one sign that Unleash The Archers should be signed, this band is to get big and by far engulf the globe with a powerful audio blast of female-fronted metal.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

WILD'La Nueva Orden'Playing la salsa and la flamenco is Madrid's Heavy / Power Metal newbies Wild with their spicy debut album 'La Nueva Orden', now whilst conventionally the lyrics are in Spanish, this does not deter the fact the music carries the luscious sounds and reverts the vocals into a side order. For the Spanish quintet, this is one step they will take in their stride, as did fellow countrymen Avalanche. Intellectually sounding reminiscent of 3 Inches of Blood in relation to the constant fixed beats and mentally high vocals. Sensationally as the album is the true essence is yet to be found and so Wild have a challenge ahead, one they will as shown by this effort, will be taken head-on.